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Burglar-Proof Your Home While You’re Away – 8 Tips For Homeowners

Ensuring your home remains safe while you’re away is a top priority for every homeowner. With burglaries becoming increasingly sophisticated, it’s crucial to employ smart, effective strategies to protect your property and valuables. 

Quick Tip: 8 Ways to Burglar-Proof Your Home

Here are eight practical tips to help you burglar-proof your home, making it less attractive to potential intruders and giving you peace of mind while you’re away.

1. Secure Your Mailbox

An overflowing mailbox is a clear sign that a home is unattended. Secure your mail by using a locked mailbox or one with a slot that prevents unauthorised access. This not only protects your personal information from being stolen but also avoids giving burglars clues about your absence.

2. Illuminate Your Property

A well-lit home is a deterrent to burglars. Install lighting fixtures around your home and use timers or smart lighting systems to simulate occupancy. This strategy makes it appear as though someone is always home, discouraging potential intruders from attempting a break-in.

3. Motion-activated Lighting

Incorporate motion-activated lights to enhance your home’s security. These lights illuminate automatically when they detect movement, providing additional security by startling intruders and alerting you to their presence.

4. Safeguard Your Valuables

Certain items of value are easy pickings for burglars. To protect these, use a robust safe hidden in a secure location. This makes it challenging for burglars to access your most valuable possessions even if they manage to enter your home.

5. Strategically Hide Spare Keys

Avoid leaving spare keys in obvious places like under doormats or flower pots. Instead, consider giving an extra key to a trusted neighbour or securing it in a lockbox. This minimises the risk of unauthorised access to your home【5†source】.

6. Lock Your Garage

Garages often provide easy access to your home. Ensure your garage door is securely locked at all times, and consider additional security measures to reinforce this entry point. This can include smart reminders or extra locking mechanisms to deter unauthorised entry​​.

7. Utilize Security Plants

Strategically placed thorny plants or bushes can act as a natural barrier against burglars. These plants can deter intruders from attempting to reach windows or doors, adding an extra layer of security around your home’s perimeter​​.

8. Collaborate with Your Neighbors

A close-knit community can significantly enhance the security of your neighbourhood. Share contact information with your neighbours and consider establishing a neighbourhood watch program. This collective vigilance can deter burglars and provide additional security for your home while you’re away​​.

Additional Measures

Beyond these eight tips, consider additional security measures for enhanced protection. Updating locks to tamper-proof versions, installing security cameras with motion detection, and using smart home systems to monitor your property remotely can offer further peace of mind. Regularly reviewing and updating your home security practices in line with the latest technologies and strategies can ensure your home remains a challenging target for burglars.

Key Takeaways

Security is not just about installing equipment; it’s about creating a comprehensive strategy that includes physical security, technological solutions, and community involvement. By taking these steps, you can create a multi-layered defence system that significantly reduces the likelihood of your home being targeted. Remember, the objective is to make it as difficult as possible for burglars to consider your home an easy target, ensuring you and your valuables remain safe, whether you’re at home or away.